AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 3 May 1926, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

A HEX BEACH STORY. AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. Mystery and surprises are the prominent eha ractcristics of Rex Beach's ■wonderful story of a newspaper and a crime, “The Goose Woman,” which came up to the expectations of a capacity house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night. In the role of “The Goose Woman,” Louise l)russer, one of the most famous feminine characters of the screen and staple today, gives one of the outstanding characterisations of her career, playing with artistry and restraint the part of the once great opera singer who loses her voice, takes to drink, and lives on a dirty little farm, becoming known as a notorious drunken slattern. The pathetic desire of the woman for the limelight which she once enjoyed ns a stage favourite gains expression through a murder on a neighbouring farm, the woman concocting a fantastic yarn to get her name in the papers. Having hated her son all his life, because she lost her voice at bis birth, she hoars that he is planning to marry an actress. J’he son is arrested and charged with the murder as a result of the faked, story of the mother. Horrified at this turn, “The Goose Woman” reveals her secret, which leads to strange and astounding denouement. Tn changing ■ his type of story from the rugged he-men ot Alaska, Reach has proved that he can he equally forceful iu another type of story/ Handsome Jack Bickford, as the son, gives a [lawless portrayal, while petite Constance Bennett, who plays the actress sweetheart of the hoy, captures the audience with her dainty personality. The supporting program me comprises the latest Patho Gazette, a further episode of the great serial, “Samson of the Circus, and a Kcrcamimrlv funny comedy entitled “The Raid.” As usual, the Roval orchestra. under the capable direction of Miss TC. Sherlock, A.T.C.L.. provided a treat in the way of first-class musical accompaniments.

A FROLIC OF FUN. AT THE GRAND. Belie Daniels was featured at the Grand Theatre on Saturday night in a picture that puts the pep in pep-per. She is cast as a girl who cannot exist without excitement, and tire manner in which she manages to survive, is told in “Wild, Wild Susan,” which., as the title indicates, is stid more wild than the “Wild Man from Borneo.” One gets a prettv good idea of the type of picture “Wild, Wild Susan” is from the first scenes. A fire engine shoots around a corner blowing and clanging for all: its .worth. Everything gives way except a sporty racing car. It is Bebe’s. Even pacing tire engines is ton tame for this up-and-going metropolitan miss. who, in the ensiling scenes, takes to trailing shoplilters and bond thieves after reading a correspondence hook on Sherlock Holmes’ w ork. 'The closing scone of the production is that of a haunted house. Midnight—a haunted house—a ' young girl on the trail of a desperate gang of bond thieves. Bebe, as Susan Van Duson, is shown in an atmosphere of creeping shadows and weird noises. She trips over something, looks down and discovers a tombstone. She s in an old weed-grown cemetery —and then strange apparitions start popping up, when’Rod La Roque, a novelist taxidriver, to obtain material for liis book enters the scene, gives battle to the ghosts, and'-rescues Bebe. It was all a frame up, as the ensuing scenes goMo show, but its a spine -tingling hair-raiser while its lasts, and funny •with a capital F. The supports are excellent, ..and comprise the latest Rathe Gazette, a charming and educational scenic showing the ''modern glories of Rome, and an exceedingly

merry comedy entitled “Hop It.” The programme of musical selections by the Grand Orchestra was most pleasing and -appropriate.

ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND , BAND. into every town in New Zealand visitors returning from the Exhibition have carried tho lame of tho Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band. Now the Band is coming to Tiniaru, where it will give a farewell concert in the Theatre Royal on Thursday, May 6th. Possessing a. stirring regimental history, which began .19 years before Waterloo, the Band lias also a musical mime that has already endured for more than a century. The first British bandmaster was Mr J. Clowe, who was appointed in 1819, when the regiment was known as the 9ord Highlanders. This famous old regiment has always maintained bands of real excellence, and the present, organisation is admittedly one ot' the finest in the British, Army. The fame of the organisation Vests both on the novelty and variety of its popular programmes, avid oil the artistic rendering of symphonic and operatic works by the masters in the best concert halls in the Old Country, 'file King and Queen have frequently complimented the conductor, Mr F. J. Ricketts, on the excellence of his baud’s playing. Mr Ricketts leads It is men without the aid of a musical score, conducting entirely from memory. Under the name of ‘-‘Alford” lie has composed the famous “Colonel Bogey” march, the popular raise “Thoughts,” “A .Musical Switch,” and many othetj well-known compositions.

“PHD!HOSE” THE RESPLENDENT. NEW AJI7 SI CAL PLAY. “Primrose,” the new musical comedy to bo presented by J. 0. Williamson Ltd. at the Theatre lloyal next Friday, ior one night only, is likely to set a new standard. Of this glittering show the- Sydney “Sun” writes: — ‘Prirtiro.se’ answers to . the best tradition ol' musical .comedy—plenty of witty d ialogmy. a succession of humorous contretemps—a strong heart motii —principals wbo. can sing, a welldressed chorus to support them —and as much dancing as can he introduced between the numbers.” An unhappy future is threatened in the arranged marriage between the adopted daughter of a spiritualist and his nephew, whose Heart is otherwise disposed. Hut the daughter, and ingenue, loses her heart to a handsome young novelist, who, in his “best sellers,” is an adept at reselling his characters from difficult .situations. . Thou there is a. doting mother’s penniless son, who had become entangled with a beauty specialist when the win was red. The novelist acts as a good lairy to the nephew, and the ingenue (whom lie annexes for himself), but his ingenuity fails to overcome the beauty specialist’s tenacity of purpose', and with a surprising 1 cluing" of trout the erstwhile harassed swain accepts the inevitable after a snappy evening at a night club. As Joan, Sir Benjamin Fall’s adopted daughter. Miss .Margery Miek]in dances and sings with splendid artistry throughout an arduous evenin'.-. 'A verv line performance is given bvAMiss Dorothy Lena as Hinkie Beach, (jf Mr (leorgo dec’s share in • the en tertainmeul, as r l ohy Meopham, little more need be added beyond emphasising ins versatility uhcii ho assumed the part ol the protended “prolessor” with psychic po:\ ei.,. Dancing is a pronounced feature of “Primrose.”' Miss lleifa L.iig-'iit and Mr Krcd .McKay provide some new amazing ideas in dancing gymnastics. Others who loom largely in the revelry are Mr Jack daiinct, as “Michael:” Air Levland Hodg-on. as Hilary 'Jane; Harrv ' Wol lon. and H 'sle le \ aide. The box plain open on Wednesday at the. Bristol.